Flexible umbrella rib



Jan. 19, 1954 T. FORTNER 2,666,442

FLEXIBLE UMBRELLA RIB Filed April 4, 1950 TTOIPNE) Patented Jan. 19,1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 FLEXIBLE UIHBRELLA RIB Thelma. IoneFortner, Newark, N. J assignor to Staten Frame Manufacturing Company,Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 4,1950, Serial No. 153,975

3 Claims. (01. 135-31) ing during ordinary useand to unusual strainssuch as the reverse bend when the umbrella is blown inside out. The.usual channel, or U- shaped type of umbrella frame element is not of asuitable cross-sectional configuration to withstand the strain ofreverse bending nor other severe twisting or bending. Although attemptshave been made to strengthen the rib elements locally at the crown orcap of umbrella frames and also at the juncture of the ribs with thespreader elements, there has been no successful improvement tostrengthen the rib and spreader elements throughout their length.

The object of the present invention is to provide umbrella frameelements which areof considerably stronger construction. than existingtypes and with sufiicient flexibility to be capable of withstanding boththe ordinary and severe strains of usage throughout their length andwhich may be produced relatively inexpensively and without addingappreciably to the weight of the umbrella.

Another object of the invention is to provide an umbrella frame havingframe elements of sufficient strength to withstand. the strain when theumbrella is blown inside out.

To describe the invention, reference is made to the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a portion of the in the opened position; 7 V

Fig. 1a is a detail of-the end portion of a umbrella element;

Figs. 2, 2a, 3, 3a, 4, 4a, 5 and 5a are crosssectional views indicatingthe manner of formingand the final shape of several forms of umbrellaframe elements embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a joint of the spreader and rib elements of theinvention, and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the joint taken along the line 1---! inFig. 6.

The umbrella frame elements of the invention are shaped from strips ofsheet metal which are frame of an umbrella folded or rolled laterally toform parallel tubu- 'lar portions connected by an intermediate, or webportion. Several preferred forms of the invention are illustrated inFigs. 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a.

Referring to Figs 2 and 2a, a sheet metal strip I of suitable width islaterally folded upon itself 'so that the edges or sides 2 of the stripare folded or rolled to form round or tubular shape members 3. Thecentral portion 4 of the strip forms. a web or connecting portionbetween the two tubular portions 3 which is substantially tangent to thetwo coiled tubular portions and parallel to a line drawn through theaxes of the coiled portions. Thereafter'the metal strip is suitably heattreated to give the metal appropriate spring.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 3a which shows the cross-section of analternate form of the invention, the edges 5 of the sheet metal stripare folded or rolled in upon the strip on opposite sides thereof toprovide tubular portions 6 which are formed in a figure eightconfiguration with the central portion 1 of the strip forming theconnecting web portion. The central portion 1 isstraight andsubstantially tangent to the two coiled or tubular members 6 andintersects a line passing through the axes of the coiled portions 6.

Another form of the invention is illustratedin Figs. 4 and 4a whereinthe edge 8 of sheet metal is folded upon the strip and coiled laterallyto the edge 9 to efiect a member having a continuously spiralcross-sectional configuration shown in Fig. 4a. and which might bedefined by saying that it is comprised of two substantiallyconcentrically disposed tubular members l0 and Illa connected by acurved web integral with said members In, Illa.

Another modification or alternate form of the invention, as shown inFigs. 5 and 5a may be produced by laterally folding or rolling the edgesI l-upon the strip to form tubular members l2 and thereafter crimpingthe tubular portions [2 inwardly toward each other and pressing thecentral portion [3 downward so that it forms a substantially straightconnecting web centrally disposed on a line passing through the axis ofthe two circular portions I2.

The umbrella frame elements are made from strips of sheet metal stock ofsuitable gauge.

7 Because of the greater structural strength of the finished rib andspreader elements of this invention the sheet metal stock may be oflighter gauge than that used for channel type ribs. However,

- the standard gauge is also suitable. The strips rolling has beenperformed the web [3 is pressed downward while the tubular portions l2are crimped inwardly. In all cases the width of the strip is uniformthroughout its length and is slightly wider than the width of the metalstrip used in the channel type frame elements. Ends of the formed ribsand spreader elements are crimped and rounded, as shown in Fig. 1a Theadditionalwidth of the metal strip is utilized to provide an additionalstrength at these points. Holes are thereafter cut in the crimped lugspro: vided at the ends of the rib and spreader elements.

The rib members are oriented so that the axes of the two tubularportions lie in a plane parallel to the surface of the cloth or otherfabric of the canopy when the ribs are assembledin the. frame,

and the spreader elements are mounted so that the tubular portions arein side by side relation- 4 greater flexibility than can be achievedwith the channel or the single tubular types of configuration.

When pressure is applied against the back or are of the channel typeumbrella element, the

. free sides tend to spring outward and there is no ship with theirrespective aXes lying in a; conical surface, the apex of which is thecentral shaft 35.

The shaft or central pole 35 of the umbrella made,

of a standardtype is also provided with the usual annular slotted cap orcrown 16. The crimped lugs [4 provided at the ends. of the ribs areintroduced into the slots [5. of the crown I 6. as shown in Fig. 1 andthe annular retaining wire I? of the cap or crown I6; is passed throughthe holes (8 provided inthe lugs l4. The sleeve i9 is positioned on therib element 2]] at the juncture of the rib with the spreader 2| Thesleeve may be soldered or otherwise suitably fixed in a position on therib element. A slotted lug 22 is provided on the under side of thesleeve to receive the crimped spreader lug 23 and a pin 24 is passedthrough holes 25 provided in the sleeve lug, and through a similar holeprovided in the crimped spreader lug 23. The spreader is attached to therunner 2B in the usual fashion, that is, by inserting the crimpedspreader lug 21 provided at the inner end of the spreader into a slot 28provided in the runner. An annular retaining wire 29. is passed throughthe, hole 311 in the lug 21. The outer end 31, of the. rib 20 issuitablycrimped to receive the standard type tip 32. Ifhereafter thecanopy of cloth or other fabric may be attached to the frame in theusual manner.

It will be noted that this. invention. can be readily adapted tostandard umbrella manufacturing procedures because. the rib and spreaderelements are adapted to be combined in the usual m nne th tand rd crow au ne o nes ng me ns, 4

U f h l e 1 hich em a s th r the juncture of the spreader isparticularly advantageous in that the strength and cross-sectionalconfiguration of the ribs is not weakened by crimping or slotting at thepoint of juncture. It will be noted particularly thatthe rib andspreader elements will have considerablygreater s r ngth to thstand helat r an er i al, be d g; trains becau e oi he dual tub lar m:figuration with the connecting central web; the us f he dual ubul r mmber r i t restoring or retaining force whereas in the presentinvention, considering, the structure as two channels, itiwill'be note dthat one; side of; each is retained by the central web and the otherside is either yieldingly retained by abutting a corre sponding freeside as in the case of the form shown inv Fig. 2a, or the free side isso oriented that it is notsubject to outward spreading. The singletubular-form of elements similarly are not as satisfactory-as structuresof the present invention because there are no free ends which can beyieldingly retained;

Although the width of the strip of sheet metal is slightly wider thanused to form the standard channel type of umbrella frame elements, itwill be appreciated; as noted above, that the'use of the cross-sectionalconfiguration described in this in vention makes it possible toutilize athinner gauge of metal and at thesame time having sufiicient strengthandgreater flexibility without adding to the weight of the frame.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention tothe forms shown in the application and that the various features andelements in the combinations and relations described may be altered andmodified in ways other than those suggested without departing from thespirit and scope of the inventionf What claimed is 1. .An improvedumbrella frame element formed of a strip of sheet metal which ha aconfiguration in cross-section comprising two substantially circularportions connected by a straight portion. l l

2. An improved umbrella frame element. formed of a strip of sheet metalwhich has a con figuration in cross-section comprising two substantiallycircular portions and a substantially straight portion connecting saidcircular portions along a line passing through theatres of the twocircular portions.

' 3. An umbrella frame element which has a confi uration incross-section including two end portions connected by a straightportion, said end nat ns com r sin ub nt a com e P -W 'I -I-lELMA 1on3;FORTNER.

ewness Ji ted, in h le 9 thi Pa e UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number

